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Double Bass Velvet Garbos double bass strings megathread part I

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#781
Liam:

Thanks for the report on the Animas Liam. I am leaning ever so slowly toward them. I've bought so many strings over the last 5 or 6 years that they are about the only ones left to try.
I like the gut sound and am reasonably happy with my present gut/Obligato/steel combination but you and others comment favourably on how the Animas have a gut-like sound with not a lot of tension.

Martin.
 
#782
jmpiwonka said:
what strings did you have on you bass before and how did they compare in terms of sustain and brightness?
Click to expand...

Immediately before this I had Eurosonics, and before that were Superflexibles. The Eurosonics are similar in dark tone, although the g-string is a bit zingy. They had less sustain than the Animas. To be fair in the comparison, I only left them on the bass for a week or so before I found the deal on the Animas, so I didn't give them a fair trial. The Superflexibles were good. I like them, for a steel string. They had a more modern sound, but still a bit dark. Darker (in my limited experience) than Spiros. Fairly stiff compared to the Animas, but less stiff than some Spiro-clad basses I've fumbled around on (I've never personally owned Spiros).

As far as string height, I haven't experimented. Hammond Ashley set it up for the Eurosonics, and I've just left the same height for the Animas ... works well so far ...

Liam
 
#783
so how do the superflexibles compare to the animas?

do they have as much sustain?
do they sound kinda bright like the superflexibles (i'll say bright since i have flexocors on my bass) or would you consider them darker than supers?
 
#784
:spit: :spit: :spit:

Opened up my case this morning and the G string had decided to break during the night. Same place. I checked the nut sluts, i mean slots, and they look fine. This is getting rediculous.

Are there alternative low tension metal wound strings out there? I think i heard of one english company that makes them. It's sucks to have to look for a new type of strings, seems as these sound good, but this is strike three. If Velvet don't replace it for free I'm not going to buy from them again.
 
#786
It's possible that you may have some other issue you are missing. I'd visit my luthier just to be sure.

I have two different sets of Velvets, Animas and 360's. Both have been on more than one bass, the 360's on 3 different basses and they are still kicking.
 
#787
jmpiwonka said:
so how do the superflexibles compare to the animas?

do they have as much sustain?
do they sound kinda bright like the superflexibles (i'll say bright since i have flexocors on my bass) or would you consider them darker than supers?
Click to expand...

The Animas don't have as much sustain as the Superflexibles, but they don't just thump and die, either. They sustain nicely, while still sounding relatively gut-ish. They're definitely darker than the Superflexibles.

Cheers,
Liam
 
#790
I've played Garbos on a bass that had Animas and I didn't like them as much. It was a 50s Kay C-1 that was in my teacher's studio and I've played it with Oblis, Corellis, Animas and Garbos and, to my ears, the sound with Animas was the most defined and projecting. The garbos kind of brought out all of the "bad"things in plywood sound - tubby, boomy, undefined.

But , admittedly, I LOVE the way Animas sound. I've had them on bass for the last few years (which has only been two sets, I've had no problems with breakage) and it is the sound that I hear in my head.

If you go to the Jeff Silverbush website, you can hear what they sound like on the GRANDMA MICKEY clips (POJO is Corellis on the same bass) and if you go to the TBDB Sampler site (if it's up now?) and click on the FRIDAY NIGHT GIG GUYS clip, that's a minidisc recording of me playing unamplified with Animas on.
 
#794
No i don't use anyhting on the strings, but i clean them well with a dry cloth after every time i play.

They've all broken in the same place, above the nut, where the metal of the string joins with the material. I've double checked that they are installed right, i've checked the nut slots.

I don't tune the bass above A=442 - I have a tuner.

Unless these strings are sensitive to climate change?? I put them on in Ireland, then brought the bass to Scandinavia for the the coooollllld dry winter. But they only started to break when spring had sprung.

i really don't get it. It could be that Compas 180s are just alot more prone to breakages than velvet's other strings. Does anyone here have a set of compas 180s on for a year or more, without problems? (My first break came after 10 months).
 
#796
After the middle of May, Velvet will restructure his offices a bit and im sure their costumer service will improve a lot, i will keep you guys posted as probably i will be responsible for the internet support, answering mails, questions, etc, i will talk with the moderators and hopefully in may you can all get your questions regarding Velvet answered in a timely manner.
Thanks in advance

Nuno
 
#798
basscrazy72 said:
After the middle of May, Velvet will restructure his offices a bit and im sure their costumer service will improve a lot, i will keep you guys posted as probably i will be responsible for the internet support, answering mails, questions, etc, i will talk with the moderators and hopefully in may you can all get your questions regarding Velvet answered in a timely manner.
Thanks in advance

Nuno
Click to expand...

Wow, what with you becoming available for Velvet, and Mike giving personal attention for Tomastik, things are looking up.

On the other hand, what will we all have to gripe about if our problems are solved in a timely manner? :rolleyes: :p

Thanks Nuno
 
#799
I played the first outdoor gig of the season tonight. Of course it ended in a rainstorm that sent us scurrying to put away all the gear.

Before that I noticed the animas getting pretty sticky on my fingers and slowing me down. They are getting kinda black around where I pull. Any ideas about getting rid of that?

Throws me out of the groove and into suck in a hurry.
 
#800
Uncletoad said:
I played the first outdoor gig of the season tonight. Of course it ended in a rainstorm that sent us scurrying to put away all the gear.

Before that I noticed the animas getting pretty sticky on my fingers and slowing me down. They are getting kinda black around where I pull. Any ideas about getting rid of that?

Throws me out of the groove and into suck in a hurry.
Click to expand...

I don't really know how to clean them (since they're copper wrapped how about Brasso or something). I noticed that the black buildup on my fingers does slow me down too and the fingers just don't slide on the strings as well. I've been trying to wash my hands really well during each break during a gig and it does help a lot.

Haven't tried a baby wipe or something like that on the strings but it might be an option. I haven't noticed any great buildup on the strings yet.
 
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